**February is Prevent-A-Litter Month **
(Humane Society of the United States)

**February is Adopt-A-Rescued-Rabbit Month **
(Petfinder.com)

**February is 
Pet Dental Health Month**
(American Veterinary Medical Association - AVMA & American Veterinary Dental Society - AVDS)

**Feb.7-14 - Have-a-Heart-for-Chained-Dogs Week **
(Dogs Deserve Better)

**Feb.19-25 - Random Acts of Kindness Week**
help local shelters/rescue organizations (RAKFoundation)

**Feb. 20 Love Your Pet Day
(National Observance)

**Feb. 22 - Walking the Dog Day **
(National Observance)

**Feb. 28 - World Spay Day**
(HSUS & Humane Society International)

Community Coalition Council & Team Meetings - February 27th & March 5th-

Join the effort to reduce intake at the animal shelter, increase lifesaving, and reach NO Kill in the near future. Learn more about the community coalition work underway and consider joining one of six teams helping animals. For more information on teams' goals/objectives click on the draft proposal "Zero in Seven" in PDF format.

Council members will meet Monday, February 27th at 6 p.m. at the SNAP office ( 2405 W. Picacho) with Billy Garrett, ASCMV chairman facilitating. Business will include reports from teams, looking at overall plan & draft a resolution for city & county endorsement. Call HSSNM office for more information at 523-8020.

The "Tabby Team" will meet on Monday, March 5th at 9:30 a.m. at the HSSNM office at 1401 Burley Court. The goal of Tabby Team work is to increase the number of cats fostered or adopted through varied means, expanding programs & services for animals. For more information, call Jean Gilbert at 522-2529.

Adoption Event - "March Meet (& Match!) Promo"- Saturday, March 17th- 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Humane Society of Southern New Mexico will hold an adoption event "March Meet (& Match!) Promo" on Saturday, March 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This special promotion will be held at PetSmart, located at 2200 E. Lohman, in Las Cruces. The Humane Society will feature many wonderful rescue animals available for adoption, those seeking a second chance at love in a forever home. Animals featured will include dogs in our foster care program and felines currently showcased at the PetSmart Charities Adoption Center, and kittens also. Drop by the adoption event to see the animals featured or to talk to us about questions or topics related to pet care at our information/outreach table.

"Second Chance at Love" Adoption Event -February 11th

Volunteers working the adoption event reported it was a very good turn-out with lots of people stopping by with inquiries and to see our foster animals. Nacho, an adorable Chihuahua admired by a family on the day of the promotion, was adopted the following day! A couple felines are being considered by families for possible adoption in the near future. Please stay tuned!

Special thanks goes to Evelyn Hancock, captain of the cat adoption program, and her dedicated team of volunteers for running this adoption event along with HSSNM board members and volunteers. Huge thanks also goes to Frank Bryce & Bill Smith for providing transport for foster animals.

"Cold Noses, Warm Hearts" Adoption Event- January 21st

The "Cold Noses, Warm Hearts" winter adoption event held at PetSmart on January 21st was very successful with the adoption of three small dogs and two kittens. Zane, a young and active Schnauzer mix was adopted by a family with older children who will play with him and dote on him plenty! Two small Chihuahua-Wire Hair Terrier dogs were adopted together and join a loving family/couple who adopted a cat from us a couple years ago. A calico kitten was adopted by young Las Cruces couple and a family from Deming adopted a gray tabby kitten the following day.

Evelyn Hancock, HSSNM cat adoption program captain reports this good news on adoptions and notes the event was well-attended with people dropping by. She mentioned follow-up checks on the pets adopted will be scheduled soon.

Our thanks to Evelyn and her team of dedicated volunteers for working the event and to Bill Smith for providing transport and to all who attended.

Pet Photos With Santa at PetSmart - December 10th-11th & 18th

Over 80 photos were taken of pets with Santa, and with their people too, during the holiday promotion at PetSmart. Our thanks to Santa, a.k.a. Frank Bryce who is HSSNM president, for serving again in this challenging role especially with squirmy, furry ones to hold! Special thanks to Vanessa Bryce for volunteering her technical skill and know-how in photography to take good photos of the animals.

We're delighted to report that "Lucky Dog", the pet shown here with Santa and his new owners Robert & Karen Barnett, was adopted recently from our foster program. He was found wandering in La Mesa by travelers en route to California. He was returned to his home and shortly thereafter released by his owner and admitted into our program. "Lucky Dog" found the right match with Robert & Karen who were wanting a companion after the recent loss/death of their pet.

Our thanks to everyone who participated in the Pet Photos With Santa! Some of the proceeds from the photos go to HSSNM as a PetSmart adoption partner.

Adoption Event at PetSmart -December 17th

We're happy to report two kittens were adopted at the December promotion. Darwin, a little gray/white male kitten was adopted by a gentleman looking for a companion to share his home on the East Mesa. Little Cloudy, a pretty solid gray female kitten was adopted by a family with two older boys who begged for this kitten. They met Cloudy earlier in the week and came back on Saturday, deciding she was the one.

More good news: two adult Chihuahuas featured at the event, who lost their owner due to illness, were adopted together a couple days after the promotion by a woman who saw them at the event.

Evelyn Hancock, captain of the cat adoption program and promotions, reports it was a very successful event with the adoption of these four animals and a steady stream of people coming by. Our thanks and appreciation to Evelyn and her volunteers for running the event and to Bill Smith for providing transport for the animals.

Animal Village NM's 1st Annual Fur Fiesta November 19

Animal Village NM's 1st Annual Fur Fiesta was a great success with a record number of seven adoptions in one day! Activities included a blessing of pets, a pet parade around the grounds, and pet guardian vows & ceremony to raise awareness of responsible pet ownership. The event was held at Animal Village, 7246 Highway 54/70 in Alamogordo. See lots of great photos on the AVNM Facebook page.

National PetSmart Adoption Event - November 12th

Two HSSNM foster animals found forever homes at this adoption event held at PetSmart. Chester, a 5 month-old Wire-Haired Terrier puppy was adopted by a couple who wanted a companion for their terrier dog. The two dogs hit it off immediately and will be great playmates. Larry, a large gray tabby found a good home with a cat-loving woman who will dote on him as the only pampered pet and assist him with losing additional weight as recommended.

Our thanks to all who stopped by to check out our adoptable animals and to get information. The event was well attended. We're grateful to Evelyn Hancock, captain of the HSSNM cat adoption program, for running the event and to all HSSNM volunteers for staffing the adoption promotion. Special thanks are owed Frank Bryce and Bill Smith for transport of foster animals and cat adoption program volunteers who provide the kitty care and condo maintenance.

"For the Love of Animals Talent Show" with Dancers Unlimited of NMSU- November 11th

The benefit performance "For the Love of Animals Talent Show" with Dancers Unlimited of NMSU and community talents, held November 11th, was a huge success! Our grateful appreciation to the Unitarian Universalist Church for hosting the event and for making it possible. Our heartfelt thanks to Dancers Unlimited, Storytellers of Las Cruces, Unitarians and community members for sharing their musical and artistic talents to help animals. The display of talent was tremendous!! Proceeds from the event exceeded expectations with more than $400 raised from ticket sales for the pet help line, foster & adoption program, spay fund, and humane education programs. Our sincere thanks to members and friends who attended the performance and helped at the event!

Vaccination Clinic - Saturday, November 12

The Humane Society of Southern New Mexico (HSSNM) and ACTion Programs for Animals (APA) conducted a dog and cat vaccination clinic in Hatch, with services provided by Laura Henckel, DVM. 71 free rabies vaccinations were provided and an additional 25 vaccinations for distemper and parvo were given. The clinic was successful for disease prevention and life saving of animals in a community lacking veterinarian services.